Choosing the right performers for your event can make a huge difference in the success and satisfaction of your guests. Whether you are planning a corporate gala, a wedding, a festival, or a private party, you want to find performers who match your theme, budget, audience, and venue. Here are some tips on how to select the best performers for your event.
Before you start looking for performers, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your event. What is the purpose, message, and tone of your event? Who are your target audience and what are their preferences and expectations? How do you want to entertain, educate, or inspire them? By defining your goals, you can narrow down the type, style, and genre of performers that suit your event.
I would start by clearly defining your event's theme, audience, venue specification and budget, then brief a specialist agency, like FullCircle Entertainment, to present performers whose style aligns with your vision. Review their past performances, client references, and assess their flexibility to adapt to your event's unique requirements. Prioritise effective communication to ensure seamless collaboration and create a memorable experience for your audience. #EventPlanning #EntertainmentSelection #EventSuccess
In addition to defining your goals you should incorporate the entertainment into your overall event design. Entertainment isn't a commodity you bring in at the last second. It's part of your entire event design that needs to be thought about from inception. And if you don't design with engagement and entertainment in mind you just book whatever you can find that is available and in your budget and hope it works out ok!
Once you have your goals in mind, you can start researching your options for performers. There are many sources you can use, such as online platforms, directories, agencies, referrals, or reviews. You can also attend showcases, festivals, or other events where you can see performers live and get a sense of their quality and professionalism. You should look for performers who have experience in your type of event, who have positive feedback from previous clients, and who have a portfolio or demo reel that showcases their skills and talents.
There was this big scandal at my school when the university lost $30k to scammers who claimed to be the bookers for Migos. This process went through multiple layers of financial bureaucracy, but they still got scammed! You know how it's it's lowkey sketchy and complicated to book a hotel through Expedia instead of the actual hotel site? And you find out they add random fees and you can't change the dates? Let's assume that principle extends to booking performers, too. Book from the source or close to the source (VERIFIED manager, agent) whenever possible.
After you have a shortlist of potential performers, you need to compare them based on several criteria. These include their availability, rates, requirements, reputation, and compatibility. You should check their availability for your event date and time, and ask for a quote that includes their fees and expenses. You should also ask about their technical, logistical, and contractual requirements, such as equipment, space, sound, lighting, insurance, or cancellation policies. You should also verify their reputation by checking their references, testimonials, or ratings. Finally, you should assess their compatibility with your event theme, audience, and venue, and see if they can customize their performance to fit your needs.
I like to engage someone who knows more bands than I do. That way we can get the line ups and get the bands in the best order. Also, this person likely is already connected to the bands and knows who to contact. This also adds trust for the performers.
Once you have selected your performers, you need to communicate your expectations clearly and effectively. You should provide them with all the relevant information about your event, such as the date, time, location, duration, audience, theme, and goals. You should also discuss the details of their performance, such as the content, style, tone, format, and timing. You should also establish a communication channel and a feedback mechanism, so that you can stay in touch and resolve any issues or questions that may arise before, during, or after the event.
I have found that if you ask the talent what goes over best with their audience, and then discuss your company objectives/core competencies with them, you're better able to align their performance with your metrics. You will both be showcased well, and provide an enduring positive impression on your guests. I ask a lot of questions leading up to the event so our priorities are aligned, and touch base with them throughout the engagement in case we need to pivot in any way. I approach it very much like a partnership.
After the event is over, you should evaluate your results and see if your performers met your expectations and delivered a memorable and enjoyable experience for your guests. You should solicit feedback from your guests, your team, and the performers themselves, and see what worked well and what could be improved. You should also thank your performers for their contribution and professionalism, and provide them with a review or a testimonial that they can use for their future gigs. By evaluating your results, you can learn from your experience and improve your event planning skills.